Not sure I like the idea of playing with "secret codes." Might give it a try. Sounds weird, turning it back off then back on again, and punching a bunch of seemingly random number keys on the remote.
Why is it weird? Manufacturer makes a DVD player. Factory is likely in China. They want to sell it in Europe, China, Africa, North America, etc. They don't want retailers opening the case just to set the region. The machine has CMOS RAM in it anyway. So they make a code. They don't want the code to be obvious so every end user will guess it. There ya go.
So the idea behind all this is to discourage copying, piracy, and copyright infringement? Even if I legitimately buy a Europe DVD they don't want me to be able to play it just because I live here, so all the players in the stores are region 1 only, unless you tweak them. Just assume I would be making pirated copies and selling them? So prevent me from playing it?
[Legal disclaimer: IANAL, so don't believe a word of this and don't sue me]
You don't understand. Last time I checked the fine print maybe 8 or 9 years ago, you don't even own the physical DVD. If you break the copyright law they rammed through congress, they may come with a warrant and reclaim the hardware -- right after they throw your asterisk in jail for 1 year on a first offence. You only own the right to play the DVD at home, under the explicit conditions of the law. Playing a Region 2 DVD anywhere in region 1 breaks the copyright and you can go to jail.
Just by playing the DVD you are "copying" it into your speakers and onto your screen of choice. Get it?? You can buy a region 6 DVD, that's fine. But you're supposed to move to China if you want to watch it.
The object is to make sure they get every last dime out of your pocket. The price of copyrighted material varies wildly depending on where it is sold. For example, if the original language is Spanish, English speaking people aren't willing to pay a premium price for it, even if English dubbing and/or subtitles are extremely well done. I'm a big Sherlock Holmes fan. I've seen Chinese prints of the complete Grenada series go on eBay for $30. You can turn off the Chinese subtitles and watch it English with the original actor's voices. (I mean, that's the rumor. No way I could ever know that for sure...)
Rick